OUTDOOR CORNER: WALLEYE FISHING PICKS UP DURING WINTER MONTHS

Just because it is deer season people shouldn't forget that there are some excellent walleye angling opportunities in Southeast Missouri.

While Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Canada are famous for their walleye fishing, anglers trying to catch a "wall hanger" should try fishing the Black River or the Diversion Channel. Walleye fishing in the lower Black River has been good, with anglers catching 7- to 10-pound fish. Walleye angling in the Diversion Channel is best throughout the winter.

The Black River, downstream of Clearwater Reservoir, and the Headwaters Diversion Channel support low numbers, but high quality, of walleye. In the Black River, walleye are generally more numerous in the section of river near Piedmont. In the Diversion Channel, anglers should fish the area downstream of the "Blockhole" near Whitewater.

In both rivers, walleye up to 15 pounds have been reported. Anglers can keep four walleye and there are no minimum length limits.

Whenever discussing walleye fishing, I always suggest using light line (6 lb.) and light action rods. I prefer light line because walleye have excellent vision. With six pound line, you will have more break-offs, but overall you should hook more fish. I favor light action rods because they are more sensitive. My favorite lure, especially in the winter, is a curly-tail jig tipped with a minnow, night crawler, or leech.

I usually start with either a white, yellow, or green curly-tail, but if these colors don't produce, I continue to switch colors until I am successful. Don't forget to retie your jig often, keep your hooks extremely sharp, use a stinger (trailer) hook and fish slowly.

Anglers fishing the Black River should look for tagged walleye. Since 1995, approximately 320 walleye have been tagged. Tag returns help us learn about walleye harvest, growth, and movement. These tags are worth between $5 and $100 when returned to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The two-inch long tags resemble a piece of spaghetti and are attached to the fish just behind the dorsal (back) fin. The word "REWARD", a tag number, and a return address is printed on each tag. If you catch a tagged walleye; the tag, date of capture, location of capture, fish length, and if the fish was kept or released should be sent to the address printed on the tag.

Because these rivers support low numbers of walleye, they can easily be over-harvested. Consequently, I cannot stress enough that anglers should practice "selective harvest". The selective harvest concept is an approach where anglers voluntarily release most fish caught.

Anglers are encouraged to harvest the smaller walleye (less than 20") and release the larger ones. Walleye larger than 5 pounds are female and the number of eggs produced by a female walleye is directly related to her size. Female walleye produce approximately 25,000 eggs per pound of fish. Thus, a ten-pound fish can produce 250,000 eggs. In the Black River, these ten-pound fish are at least eight years old.

If you catch a large walleye, take length and girth measurements so a fiberglass replica can be made and then release the fish.

Selective harvest gives the angler the opportunity to harvest a few fish for a delicious meal and yet ensure quality fishing in the future.

For additional information concerning walleye in Southeast Missouri, contact the Department of Conservation Service Center in Cape Girardeau (573-290-5730).

Paul Cieslewicz is a fisheries management biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation.